868.20/4–749: Telegram
The Ambassador in Greece (Grady) to the Secretary of State
urgent
Amag 39. Copy of Sir William Slim’s Greek report was handed me by British Ambassador and transmitted by me to Department by my top secret despatch of April 2.1 Reference Gama 22, April 6 [5].2
Slim’s report was prepared in advance of his arrival in Greece in line with Down’s well-known thoughts and then endorsed by Slim personally after his visit. Being British it is cast in terms of Empire defense and being a British soldier’s report it makes its recommendations without giving consideration to cost either to US taxpayer or Greek recovery program.
The problem that Slim is trying to solve by his recommendations has been given careful and continuing study by us during many months. We know the reasons for lack of success in the past and because of this knowledge we are building a better trained, better led Greek Army. We are striving to maintain the morale high. We believe the present Greek armed forces are adequate, from the military viewpoint, to clear Greece this year of organized banditry up to border areas. From the economic viewpoint army even too large if reconstruction program is to make appreciable progress. This, of course, assumes that nature and extent of present aid to guerrillas from [Page 292] northern countries will not appreciably be augmented. In latter case, which might be result of Cominform victory in Yugoslavia, a new situation might be presented which could not be dealt with by Greek Army in its present size, size recommended by Slim, or its maximum size represented by total mobilization.
We have learned that certain way to slow punch in Greek Army’s drive is to watch passively circulation of story that army is too small and soon will be increased in size. Since November we have been able to squelch such stories near source with excellent results. Bearing in mind speed with which rumors of recommended increases travel by grape-vine and their disastrous effect in Greece Purge that Department immediately inform British that it will not increase present ceiling of Greek armed forces. The special training, equipment and use of units within ceiling is constant concern of JUSMAPG and GGS.
During my stay in Washington3 I will wish elaborate on this general subject as pointed up in Slim’s report.
- Despatch 32, April 2, from Athens, not printed.↩
- Supra.↩
- Ambassador Grady, accompanied by William M. Rountree, his Special Assistant, left Athens for Washington on April 9, leaving Counselor of Embassy Karl Rankin as Chargé. Ambassador Grady had been asked to return to Washington in connection with the forthcoming submission to Congress of legislation for the Military Aid Program. He also wished to discuss several matters with officers of the Department.↩